A CRYOPRESERVATION METHOD FOR PASTEURELLA-MULTOCIDA FROM WETLAND SAMPLES

A cryopreservation method and improved isolation techniques for detect ion of Pasteurella multocida from wetland samples were developed. Wetl and water samples were collected in the field, diluted in dimethyl sul foxide (DMSO, final concentration 10%), and frozen at -180 C in a liqu id nitrogen vapor shipper. Frozen samples were transported to the labo ratory where they were subsequently thawed and processed in Pasteurell a multocida selective broth (PMSB) to isolate P. multocida. This metho d allowed for consistent isolation of 2 to 18 organisms/ml from water seeded with known concentrations of P. multocida. The method compared favorably with the standard mouse inoculation method and allowed for p reservation of the samples until they could be processed in the labora tory.